EP 228: Victor Luckerson’s (Built) from the Fire
“Even in Tulsa, the place where this happened, this was not widely known. I felt writing something that could ground the story and the people there would be honestly a valuable contribution to our nation's understanding of itself.”
Victor Luckerson is a journalist and author working to bring neglected black history to light. His new book is Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street. Victor’s book chronicles the history of Tulsa's Greenwood District and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. On May 30, 1921 a mob terrorized the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa a flourishing black business, district affectionately called Black Wall Street. In less than 24 hours - as many as 300 people were killed, 800 people were treated for injuries, and more a thousand homes and businesses - 35 city blocks - were burned to the ground
But what’s interesting about Victor and his book is that he doesn’t just cover the tragedy and the aftermath, but rather choose to paint a grounded human story - providing the perspective of families who have called the community home for generations. The New York Times named “Built from the Fire'' an editor’s choice pick, calling it "absorbing" and "outstanding." Victor’s a former staff writer at The Ringer and business reporter for Time - his writing and research have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Wired, the Ringer, the Guardian, and Smithsonian. Victor also manages an email newsletter about black history called “Run It Back." Victor also shares quite a bit of hometown and academic history with Raman - both hailing from Montgomery, Alabama, and attending the University of Alabama - where Victor was editor of the Crimson White, the University’s student paper (Raman was not). Enjoy this candid conversation and really unique take on Tulsa, the people of Greenwood, and how we need think about this and where we need to go as a society. And be sure to pick up a copy of “Built From the Fire” wherever you get your favorite books.
LEARN ABOUT VICTOR LUCKERSON
BOOK: Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street - goodreads.com/book/show/62296497-built-from-the-fire
theringer.com/2018/6/28/17511818/black-wall-street-oklahoma-greenwood-destruction-tulsa
MENTIONS
SHOW: The Wire - imdb.com/title/tt0306414
PERSON: Andre 3000 - wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_3000